RCL Voyager class or Princes Grand Class?

[ssatterly]

Ok... I Know that I am takeing my Family on a Cruise in Dec 2005 and I am 99% sure I want to do the southern route. My kids will be 9 and 6 when we go. I will be taking them and my mother none of them have ever cruised before. But I have. So they are up for anything. And are so excited about going.
Ok now which Ship class is nicer or has more things to do? Does all of the Grand Class have mini-golf on them? I know that the Adventure will be doing Southern next Dec but I am not sure which ship in the grand class will be doing the Southern in Dec 2005. Right now I do think it is the Golden.
How are the kids areas on both class ships? What about the kids menu's?
Ok now for the itinerary's the one we like for Princess is the Southern Explorer which is as follows St. Thomas, St. Kitts, Grenanda, Caracas and Aruba with one day at sea. The RCL itinerary we like is Aurba, Curacao, St. Maarten and St. Thomas with 2 days at sea. Can some one tell me which itinerary is nicer, more to do with kids , ect....
I have never been on Princess or RCL as of yet. ( I am booked on the Radiance this Dec with my Boyfriend). ( I have cruised on CCL before) Which is better prices and larger cabins. I am looking at either an inside or maybe a room with a window but on this cruise I need o go kind of cheap cabin wise to payfor it all.
Thanks For all your help!!!!!!

[Donna]

Hi SS,
Sonce you are going with kids, I'd go with a Voyager class, just more for them to do onboard. Start checking prices, both itinaries are nice, most southern cruises are port intensive, I think I may like the one extra sea day on RCL?

Hello...I have to agree with Donna that RCL would be the better choice with kids. It might be the better choice even if you did not have the kids with you. WE have been on both cruise lines several times and it's just a matter of opinion of which one you would prefer if without kids. However, with the Voyager class ships, there are so many things for kids compared to Princess which caters a bit more to an older age group. And on the Voyager ships, you have that open Promenade floor with shops, cafes, and of course the two nightlyh parades which the kids should love.

As far as the itinerary is concerned, we are dong the same itinerary this October to the Southern Caribbean on the Adventure Of The Seas. Have done the Southern before but not with Curacao included, so we are looking forward to it. We totally love Aruba and hear Curacao is wonderful too.

If you need more info on the islands, I would be more than happy to help further after we get back from our cruise, so if you have anyh other questions, let me know in advance and I will make sure I have the answers for you when we get back.

Dave

[Happy Cruiser]

IMO you will find more kids on western or eastern itinerary -- sometimes the price of flying to san juan is too costly for most families --

and especially on their first cruise they will enjoy any port -- they are too young to know the difference between aruba and jamaica imo.


Just my 2cents -- i have taken 8 cruises with my kids